Carpet Beetle Larva (likely varied carpet beetle or black carpet beetle)

Indoors: carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, clothing, dry food storage areas, attics, wall voids, bird/rodent nests. Outdoors: dead animals, insect nests, flowers.

Keratin-based materials (wool, silk, feathers, fur, leather), dried animal products, stored foods (cereals, pasta, pet food), cotton, synthetics (when soiled with food/body oil).

Larvae are the damaging stage, often found creating irregular holes in fabrics. They prefer dark, undisturbed areas. They may roll into a 'C' shape when disturbed. Adults feed on pollen and nectar outdoors and can fly indoors to lay eggs.

Potential Risks: Significant pests of stored products, textiles, and museum collections. Can cause considerable damage to fabrics, clothing, and natural fiber products. Some people may experience skin irritation (dermatitis) from contact with bristles. Potential Benefits: Outdoors, some species act as decomposers, especially of animal carcasses. They are used in forensic entomology to estimate post-mortem interval.